Austin Ekeler: 'Heck, No' Haven't Studied Jayden Daniels, Maye amid Commanders Rumors

Austin Ekeler is likely to line up next to a rookie quarterback in Washington's backfield in the 2024 campaign after signing a two-year, $8.4 million deal with the Commanders this offseason.

Just don't expect him to be scouting his possible new teammate.

"Heck, no. I ain't got time to do the homework," he said on Sirius XM NFL Radio, laughing, when asked if he spent any time watching film of the rookie quarterbacks. "That's not my job, that's not my job. I'll leave that to the administration to do that. Whoever we end up picking, if that's the route we choose to go, then I'll do some homework then. But until they give me that person's name, I ain't even worried about it."

Either way, the Commanders will have a new look this season.

A rookie quarterback—likely LSU's Jayden Daniels or North Carolina's Drake Maye—should be handed the reins immediately (you can check out the B/R NFL Scouting Department's latest big board here). Ekeler will share a backfield platoon with a talented bruiser in Brian Robinson Jr., forming a solid one-two punch. Zach Ertz was signed to bolster the passing game. All will be under the watch of new head coach Dan Quinn.

The Commanders probably aren't going to win a tough NFC East that also features more talented rosters in the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. But there's plenty of reason for optimism heading into 2024.